Portret van een vrouw van opzij 1878 - 1938

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this portrait of a woman from the side with graphite on paper. It's really about mark making, a network of tiny strokes forming the image. Look at how the hatching defines the fur collar, a dense accumulation of dark lines creating texture and volume. It reminds me that drawing, like any art form, is a conversation between the artist, the medium, and the subject. Holst isn't just representing a woman; he's exploring the potential of graphite to capture light and shadow, form and feeling. The lines around the eye are softer, more delicate, hinting at the woman's inner life. It’s as if the artist is trying to capture not just her likeness, but also a glimpse of her soul. This contrast between the precise rendering of the profile and the more suggestive treatment of the background is very evocative of Whistler. In the end, art is about looking, thinking, and feeling, all at the same time.